Humble/Kingwood Roundup: Hargrave feeling the heat

NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUPFalcons still searching for offensive linemen

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Unending days of 100-degree heat and football don't always mix well, but that's what the Huffman Hargrave players have dealt with the first week of practice.

The Falcons — and the rest of the Class 3A and under teams in the state — began going through grueling two-a-days on Aug. 1 in preparation for the 2011 season, which kicks off in just 15 days.

Hargrave coach Mike McEachern, who's entering his sixth season, estimates it was 168 degrees every day last week on the school's turf field. To compensate, they work in the morning and evening.

"You've got to give a lot of water breaks and a lot of recuperation time, but we've been adapting pretty well and I think that's something that helps us in the long run, getting used to that heat," McEachern said.

The first week was an important one for the Falcons, who have a lot of work left before their season opener Aug. 26 at Hardin-Jefferson.

The Falcons had one two-way player last season but may have as many as four this year.

"It's a little bit of a change, but nothing the kids can't overcome," McEachern said.

Incoming sophomore Cole Harrell will be one of those two-way players after losing the competition for the starting quarterback job to incoming junior Preston Townley, a transfer from Barbers Hill.

Harrell will play receiver and also start at cornerback, which works out well for the team, McEachern said.

Townley earned the QB job during the summer, with his play in 7-on-7 and commitment to getting into the weight room.

McEachern says he looked very good the first week of fall practice.

"He looks like he's ready to start Game 1 right now," he said.

The Falcons were one of the top scoring teams in all of 3A last season, but with QB Cole DeBerry (3,460 yards, 37 touchdowns passing last year) graduated, it'll be hard to maintain that pace.

Hard, but hardly impossible.

"We don't know if we can keep up exactly that pace," McEachern said. "That's going to be kind of tough. But we've still got a great system, and I've got great coaches who do a lot of work and put time in to find out where people's weaknesses are.

"So we still feel like we're going to put some points up."

Defensively, Atascocita transfer Josh Rhodes, a late addition this summer who will have a big impact, further strengthens a linebacking corps that already included Austin Weber and Corey Spray.

"We've got to stay healthy, bottom line," McEachern said. "If we stay healthy we'll be fine. With as many kids as we're going to be rotating and flipping around and flopping back and forth, we have got to stay healthy."

Rice honoring military

The Rice athletic department and Gallery Furniture are teaming up to allow members of the military and first responders who serve locally to enjoy the 100th season of Rice football free of charge.

Members of all branches of the military, along with members of fire, police and rescue squads, will be able to sign up for tickets for themselves and immediate family by submitting a request online or calling 713-522-OWLS, ext. 6957.

Tickets can be picked up in advance at the Tudor Fieldhouse box office or on game day at Rice Stadium. Program participants must provide proof of affiliation when picking up their tickets.

"Thanks to the generosity of Gallery Furniture and Jim McIngvale, we are able to honor these individuals throughout the season," Rice Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan said. "We understand the sacrifices they make to protect our great country and its freedom, and we are proud to recognize them on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and honor them all season through this program."

The program will kick off with an on-field ceremony prior to the Owls' home opener against Purdue on Sept. 10 as part of national recognition of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America.

Rice opens its 100th season of college football on Sept. 3 when it travels to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns.